India, March 12 -- A powerful explosion in the Persian Gulf has set two oil tankers on fire near Iraq's southern port city of Basra, killing at least one person and triggering fears about the safety of global energy shipping routes. The blasts occurred on Wednesday while the vessels were anchored close to each other in waters near the Al Faw port, a key oil export hub in Iraq.

Authorities immediately launched an investigation into the incident, with early findings suggesting the explosions may have been caused by an attack. Officials suspect explosive-laden boats may have struck the vessels, intensifying concerns over maritime security in the region as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East.

Video footage circulating online showed...